Cottonwood Fall, KS, USA
N4811G
Cessna 172N
The pilot was unable to differentiate between the dirt runway and an adjacent road. Upon touchdown, the pilot decided the road was not the runway and initiated a go-around. The pilot reported that she hit and "broke through" a barbed wire fence adjacent to the road, resulting in substantial damage. The pilot continued with the go-around and landed on the runway without further incident. An examination of the airplane's system revealed no anomalies.
According to the pilot, the trip was uneventful. Upon arrival at her destination, the pilot was unable to differentiate between the dirt runway and an adjacent road. The pilot misidentified the road as the runway due to the location of the wind sock, and attempted a landing. Upon touchdown, the pilot decided the road was not the runway and initiated a go-around. The pilot reported that she hit and "broke through" a barbed wire fence adjacent to the road. The pilot continued with the go-around and landed on the runway without further incident. An examination of the airplane revealed the horizontal stabilizer was crushed aft, and the spar was bent. An examination of the remaining airplane system, conducted by the FAA, revealed no anomalies.
the pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the fence. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's inability to properly identify the runway environment, and the improper in-flight decision to initiate a go-around.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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